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"We should fire at them and take out a few of their cities—Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta," he said. "They should fire back and take Karachi and Lahore. Kill off a hundred or two hundred million people......."

Religion as the Foundation of a Nation: The Making and Unmaking of Pakistan - P.K. Upadhyay, IDSAIt probes the religious and sectarian fault-lines in Pakistan in depth to determine their impact on the future of Pakistan.http://idsa.in/system/files/monograph36.pdf

Putting Our Children in Line of Fire - The Nation, January 27, 2013The above is an admission by Pakistan Army's Top General that it was the Pakistani Army at Kargil, not the mujahideen, and Musharraf was the Culprit

A bomb at all cost By Ahmad Faruqui - a candid admission of the wars that Pakistan started against India.

Popular support for suicide bombings in pakistan.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as ... 008_pg12_1Survey by university students in karachi say 50% of respondents support suicide bombings in kashmir.

In Dec. 2008, President Zardari himself admitted to ISI helping LeT. He said,"The links between the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency and the LeT were developed in the old days when dictators used to run the country. After the 9/11 terror attacks in the US, things have changed to a great extent"

In an address to bureaucrats in July 2009, President Zardari said: "Militants and extremists were deliberately created and nurtured as a policy to achieve some short-term tactical objectives. Let us be truthful to ourselves and make a candid admission of the realities. The terrorists of today were the heroes of yesteryears until 9/11 occurred and they began to haunt us as well"

In Nov. 2009, Prime Minister Gilani admitted to the support for terrorism by Musharraf as "running with the hares and hunting with the hounds".

When Bush warned the Pakistanis in August 2008 of their support to Al Qaeda, Afrasiab Khattak, President of Awami National Party (ANP) said this: "The question is why it has taken the Americans so long to see what the ISI is doing. We’ve been telling them for years but they wouldn’t buy it.". See here.

In an interview to the BBC as far back as on Feb. 13, 1994, Benazir Bhutto admitted how she handed over to Rajiv Gandhi the complete list of Sikh activists colluding with the ISI in terrorism in the Punjab. Later, Nawaz Sharif described this interview as a faux pas.

Apart from these, of course, numerous Pakistani commentators, analysts, and editors have openly admitted to terror as a state policy.

Pasha's China trip has been interpreted by some as a tacit act of defiance—a reminder to his American counterparts that the Pakistanis can always look east to their “all-weather” friend across the Himalayas rather than bend the knee to the will of the U.S.

But it also may be a sign of China's growing disquiet with Pakistan. Another top-ranking Pakistani military officer, Lt. Gen Wahid Arshad, had already conducted a considerable tour of China just weeks ago in a bid to improve ties. A few analysts have suggested that Pasha's trip — couched in vague terms about building a “broad-based strategic dialogue” — may have been less a visit and more of a summons.

Chinese officials claimed the attacks in Kashgar were authored by the shadowy East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a jihadist organization of mostly ethnic Uighurs, a Turkic Muslim minority that comprises the majority in the far-western Chinese region of Xinjiang. China routinely invokes the specter of the terrorist threat when cracking down on dissent in the restive region. Yet disturbances there tend to be triggered more often by social discontent — many Uighurs chafe at state policies they deem discriminatory and marginalizing — than militant connivance. Pasha's presence in Beijing may mark Beijing's continued efforts to root out Uighur dissidents and sympathizers beyond China's borders, as it has already done in Kazakhstan.

Youtube video: Bilatakalluf with Tahif Gora: Tarek Fateh dissects with Pakjabi society and shows how its war-impotent Army loots the common Pakistani (Jan 13, 2012)

Terroristan - Land of Pure Terror - Right to Reply of India by Eenam Gambhir (First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York) at the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly:

PAKISTAN’S PROBABLE incoming prime minister campaigned as a maverick challenging an entrenched and corrupt political elite. But Imran Khan, who on Thursday claimed victory in his country’s parliamentary elections, is not exactly an outsider. He is indeed an enemy of the major political parties that have dominated Pakistani civilian politics for decades — but he is also the favorite of the Pakistani military, whose overweening power the mainstream parties have been trying to curb.

If Mr. Khan takes office, he will have the support of many Pakistanis who want to see reforms that distribute wealth more equally or that disempower the old political dynasties. But he will owe his position largely to the army and its powerful intelligence service, which helped him win so that they can more easily pursue their own interests — which include siphoning off the lion’s share of the national budget, supporting the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan and encouraging other extreme Islamist groups. That means Pakistan, which has been one of the most difficult countries for the United States to work with over the past two decades, is likely to become still more so.

Though no official results had been announced by late Thursday, those reported by local media were close to what the generals were seeking: a solid lead for Mr. Khan, but not enough of one to allow him to form a strong civilian government. The risk for the winners was a popular backlash. So overt and heavy-handed was the military’s intervention in the election campaign, and so questionable the vote count, that some analysts predicted it could trigger sustained unrest. The former governing party of Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted from office by court order a year ago and imprisoned this month, said it would not accept the result.

During his time in office, Mr. Sharif challenged the military’s control of foreign policy, including its insistence on permament hostility toward India and its sponsorship of terrorist organizations. His reward was to be singled out for prosecution on corruption charges. While he was probably guilty of amassing illicit wealth, the court judgments against him were orchestrated by the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, according to one judge of the Islamabad High Court. According to numerous reports, the military also bribed or intimidated members of Mr. Sharif’s party to switch their support to Mr. Khan and forced Pakistani media to tilt their coverage in favor of his campaign.

Mr. Khan, a former cricket star and playboy who now portrays himself as devoutly religious and a nationalist, seems to have few foreign policy views other than antipathy toward the United States and its war on terrorism; he has endorsed the Taliban cause in Afghanistan. That suits the generals, who, since the Trump administration’s suspension of U.S. military aid, no longer much pretend to comply with U.S. demands to cease support for the group. Pakistan’s de facto rulers now seem to believe that their backing from China, which is investing tens of billions of dollars in the country’s infrastructure, gives them the freedom to pursue their baleful purposes more openly. Mr. Khan’s election is evidence of their renewed ascendance.

The India Lobby in D.C is very very powerful . Newly elected Imran Khan should be well advised to do something ( fire the New, young and Inexperienced Paki Ambassador ASAP for one thing ! ) to ensure that this important paper shaping public opinion, do not print such "false image" of Pakistan

A Pakistani migrant was arrested for trying to set fire near the military camp of Perama on Wednesday. The arrest has been confirmed by the local police.

The first information of the Local webpage epirus gate says that the perpetrator denies all charges and was just ‘working in the area’.

It’s not the first time that migrants have started fires, with several cases of arson having been filed in the Moria migrant camp in lesbos [sic]….ISIS already called on its recruits to use arson as a weapon against a country. The method is used in Israel as well and according to ISIS it can “impose terror on an entire country”….

OPINION: Imran Khan Has Declared Victory In Pakistan's Election. But The Military WonJuly 27, 2018National Public Radio (NPR)Shamila N. Chaudhary

The Pakistani people have spoken. In Wednesday's parliamentary elections, they voted in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), a political party led by former cricket star turned politician Imran Khan, to form the next government. PTI will most likely install Khan as the prime minister.

But have the Pakistani people told us what they want? We can't be sure, and here's why: The campaign environment leading up to the elections was heavily manipulated by pro-PTI forces, namely members of the military, judiciary and the political elite — a collection of powerful individuals and institutions commonly referred to in Pakistan as "the establishment." The civilians who join forces with the military to achieve its dominance — including a politicized judiciary that historically has been used as a tool to justify the military's extra-constitutional measures — often reap benefits typically reserved for those in uniform.

IMO, the Military has now given Imran a chance to satisfy his ego to be PM also - in the process - and, at the same time, "fix" Paki image abroad, specially in the western world .

Many Pakistanis believe that the establishment is behind the pressure tactics directed against the electorate during this campaign season. In this election season, assassination of candidates, intimidation of the media and the imprisonment of Khan's primary rival, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, no doubt silenced critical aspects of the electoral process.

The many youthias who supported Imran, do not "buy" this theory , but there is no doubt that the Army Establishment prevented an equal playing field for all parties and all candidates !

Did the media report freely? Were people scared off from voting because of violence and fears of retribution? Did the judiciary's pursuit of corruption charges against Sharif distract from his party's successes in running the government for the past five years? In a place like Pakistan, where a layer of political manipulation by the establishment has clouded every election since the country's birth in 1947, we will never fully know the answers to these questions.

So while Imran Khan got the votes in this election, it is Pakistan's military that has won — again.

The military has been cautious about overtly involving itself in politics in the past decade — a result of the unpopular legacy of former military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the military's negative exposure in Wikileaks documents and the difficult fight against anti-state militants. But that inclination has steadily receded over the past few years. The Pakistani military is no longer lurking in the shadows. It is walking down Constitution Avenue in Islamabad in broad daylight.

Pakistan still depends very much financially on US for day to day survival ( World Bank, US Aid, Afghan transit for US, IMF, NGO's etc etc ) but Paki ego does not allow it to admit this ! The Kerry- Lugar Act also ensures that the Paki fauj does not rule directly via martial law. Therefore, pulling the strings behind the scene is the best option of the Deep State !

Khan, who can reach millions of Pakistanis in a way that no other politician can, is its newest foil. His popularity as a sportsman is unparalleled and his brash, populist rhetoric appeals to young, working-class voters. What better candidate to break the dominance of the dynastic former ruling party, Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, in Parliament?

Imran has "fulfilled his dream" of becoming PM. Let us see, if he can "fix" Pakistan now

But the legitimacy of Khan's government will undoubtedly be questioned for the duration of his tenure. Ironically, in shaping the political environment to favor Khan, the establishment has effectively handicapped its own candidate.

With Sharif's party sidelined and Khan having to defend his legitimacy, the establishment has taken a page out of a playbook from the 1990s, when the military would pit politicians against each other to ensure weak coalition governments wouldn't unify against military influence. This era ended in 1999, when Musharraf ousted Sharif in a military coup.

Doubt that Mush will be "allowed to return to Pakiland " !

Critics of Khan will say that a soft coup has already happened and with him in place, the military already runs the show. But we must consider what the Pakistani military would do if Khan's government fails to adhere to its expectations. And there will be many opportunities to fail, from determining the imprisoned Sharif's future and rapprochement with India to working with the United States to end the war in Afghanistan.

The Khan will soon find out that his hands are tied down

All this talk of political manipulation distracts from the ambitious agenda Khan has for his vision of the "new Pakistan," a place where the stark divide between the poor and privileged is addressed through a welfare state system. Amidst fraught relations with Pakistan's neighbors and the United States, Khan's government will also need to define its agenda and approach with the international community. The hardest part will be how Khan refashions himself as a unifying figure who can bring together the political parties who believe his victory is a sham.

The challenges that lie ahead mean his lifeline as prime minister is potentially not very long. In many respects, Khan stands to butt heads with the very establishment that put him in power. The military will want to protect its interests in India and Afghanistan. The judiciary will not want to go soft on Sharif. Extremist groups close to the military may not like concessions Khan may have to make on social issues to build his coalition.

Then there is the "Peerni factor" in all this crazy mix

To understand Khan's political fortunes and possible destiny, we should look no further than the path taken by Nawaz Sharif, who began his political career as a protégé of the military dictator Gen. Muhammad Zia ul-Haq. When Sharif first was elected prime minister in 1990, many believed the intelligence services rigged his victory. His dramatic fall from grace — he has been ousted three times as prime minister and now sits in jail — should be a reminder for the PTI and the jubilant Pakistanis cheering Khan's victory that the military's involvement in politics leaves no one immune and nothing sacred.

Justice Siddiqui puts judicial bigwigs in a fix by seeking ‘crucial’ record ahead of trial

ISLAMABAD – Justice Shaukat Siddiqui of Islamabad High Court has sought the details regarding the expenses incurred on the renovation of official residences of all the superior court judges.

Justice Siddiqui has requested the Supreme Judicial Council through two letters to order production of certain documents and information that he could use in his defence, stating that it was not possible for him to get hold of the information sought on his own.

The information sought includes the total expenditure incurred during the last seven years on the maintenance of each official accommodation of the judges of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and all the high courts.Justice Siddiqui, who is all set to face an open court trial on Monday regarding the expenses incurred on the refurbishing of his residence, has said the council should also summon records relating to the expenses incurred on the houses owned by the superior court judges but declared as official accommodation.

He has been accused of "corruption" by CJP Saquib and his fellow peers . He has now countered that by asking similar details for "all other judges" , so he in turn can accuse his peers of such "corruption" as well . So the moniker of "shit stirrer" applies in his case .

‘The list and particulars of those superior court judges should also be provided who despite having official accommodations kept on receiving, or are still receiving, house rent allowance at a rate of Rs65,000 per month,’ pleaded the judge who has been stirring controversy over a span of years.

So it was not ONLY him that was drinking at the Paki public trough for so many years.

Justice Siddiqui has also asked for the details of furniture and other articles provided in the official accommodations at state expense, besides the record regarding change of furniture and other household articles.The IHC judge has also sought details of the alterations, modifications or additions made on the orders of the superior court judges in the official accommodations occupied by them, Dawn News reported.

Justice Siddiqui, who recently revealed that the country’s premier intelligence agency was meddling in judicial affairs, said that necessary directive to the Auditor General Pakistan Revenues, provincial accountant generals, Pakistan Works Department, CDA and the provincial communication and works department should be issued for the provision of the required material.

Imran's Govt first test of "tackling corruption"

Justice Siddiqui has also asked for a notification regarding the retirement of Shahid Singha for whom the former was accused of directing good care at a private hospital because the CDA hospital lacked facilities needed for the treatment.

The corruption rot runs deep . Since the judge is under under attack anyways, he should expand his targets to include corrupt faujis as well !!!

Justice Siddiqui has also asked for the service record and the manner in which Sarwar Sindhu got the post of CDA’s director general (planning). He has also asked for a comparative statement of construction at House No 2, Street No 60, F-7/4, Islamabad, where the judge currently lives, before and after the allotment to the applicant.He has also asked for the date on which the house was vacated by Tariq Aziz, the-then principal secretary to former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf and the condition of the house at the time of allotment to the applicant.

He has also sought details of the expenditure incurred by the CDA/PWD on the directive of the earlier occupant, and alterations, modifications and additions made on the orders of Mr Aziz.

In most likelihood, since he is a "very hot potato", he will be let go and asked to "enjoy life at the sunset of his life" with the proviso that he stay quiet and just go away !!!

Word of caution . This known fraudster ( equal to Ishaq Dar ) is well known for making such bombastic announcements to garner " undeserved publicity" ( and camouflage his crooked deals !) for his so-called "Charitable Causes". A couple of months ago, he announced a huge sum for the so-called Rohingyas refugees - a favourite cause for the Ummah community. Hope the said Charity has not fallen prey to "the cheque is in the mail" story. Hope the Paki Treasury actually receives the promised amount from him and this is not another publicity stunt for the (corrupt) real estate mogul . Will Imran make him a target of a corruption probe . He has "support" from high level faujis

New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) India today said it desires a prosperous and progressive Pakistan, and hoped that the new government in Islamabad will work constructively to build a safe, stable and secure South Asia free of terror and violence, in its first reaction on elections in that country.

Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said India welcomed that the people of Pakistan have reposed their faith in democracy through general elections.

"India desires a prosperous and progressive Pakistan at peace with its neighbours," he said.

"We hope that the new government of Pakistan will work constructively to build a safe, stable, secure and developed South Asia free of terror and violence," Kumar said.

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has emerged as the single largest party in the elections held on July 25, winning 116 of the 270 seats.

Jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 64 seats and former president Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 43 seats are placed at number two and three respectively.

Amid clear indications that his party was on course of wresting power, Khan on Thursday had said Pakistan was ready to improve its ties with India and his government would like the leaders of the two sides to resolve all disputes, including the "core issue" of Kashmir, through talks.

"If they take one step towards us, we will take two, but at least (we) need a start," he said.

Ties between India and Pakistan have nose-dived in the last few years over cross-border terrorism. Relations worsened after terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups on several military bases in India.

New Delhi has been maintaining that Pakistan must stop terror activities from its soil for any meaningful talks between the two countries to resolve the outstanding issues.

ISLAMABAD: In a major development, China has agreed to immediately give a $2 billion loan to Pakistan, a move meant to arrest the sliding official foreign currency reserves and provide much-needed breathing space to the new government.

The $2 billion loan will be categorised as an “official bilateral inflow”, said sources in the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). They said that over $1 billion has already been transferred to the SBP accounts this week, and would reflect in the reserves’ data to be released on August 2. The amount will push SBP-held foreign currency reserves past $10 billion. This amount INCLUDES US$ 5.8 BILLION taken by the SBP from Ātaṅkavadīsthani Commercial Banks

Earlier this week, the SBP reported that official foreign currency reserves had fallen to $9 billion for the period ending July 20.

SBP chief spokesperson Abid Qamar did not respond to the question of whether Pakistan had already received $1 billion of the $2 billion official bilateral inflow.

The Ministry of Finance also did not officially comment on the development. But a senior official confirmed on condition of anonymity that one friendly country has agreed to provide $2 billion as an official bilateral inflow. He said that it will be a concessional deposit.

The $2 billion loan is likely to ease pressure on official foreign currency reserves and the rupee-dollar parity. The rupee strengthened by 64 paisas against the US dollar in the inter-bank market, closing at Rs127.86 on Friday.

The financial assistance would also provide room to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government-to-be in analysing the precise situation of the external sector and formalise its strategy to deal with the crisis. The deposit will also make sure Pakistan’s official foreign currency reserves are sufficient for two months of imports. The monthly bill currently ranges between $5.6 billion and $5.8 billion.

Improved reserves may also strengthen Pakistan’s position at the time of talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in case the government formally decides to avail the programme.

Asad Umar, the man tipped to lead the finance ministry, told The Express Tribune that the economic crisis was so severe and required measures so urgent that no option, including the IMF programme, could be ruled out.

However, the $2 billion assistance will not be enough and the country will have to put its house in order by enhancing exports and attracting sufficient foreign direct investment.

The military establishment has already declared the economy as a matter of national security. In a recent meeting of the National Security Council, apprehension was raised that any future arrangement with the IMF could undermine the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

In the past, the IMF expressed concerns over the sheer size of CPEC and its implications on Pakistan’s external debt repayments. Pakistan currently owes $4.8 billion to the IMF that exposes it to the lender’s scrutiny.

In 2014, during the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, Pakistan received a $1.5 billion grant from Saudi Arabia. The previous government also requested both China and Saudi Arabia to provide $2 billion each to stabilise official foreign currency reserves. While Chinese financial institutions provided commercial loans, both countries declined to extend a bailout.

Pakistan faces a mammoth task of arranging around $11 billion to fill its external financing gap in the ongoing fiscal year. The Ministry of Finance, IMF and independent economists have assessed Pakistan’s gross external financing needs for 2018-19 to fall in the range of $23 billion to $28 billion.

Pakistan’s biggest challenge is to contain the import bill that has surged to $60.9 billion in fiscal year 2017-18.

Possible strategy in future

On the other hand, the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Board of Revenue, the SBP and the Ministry of Commerce have proposed new tax measures to curb imports after undertaking a joint exercise. Before the elections, the finance ministry moved a summary to the caretaker federal cabinet but the matter was deferred and left to the new government.

The exercise proposed to further increase the 2% customs duty to 3% on more than 6,000 imported items except petroleum products, according to the official summary. It also recommended to double the regulatory duty on mobile phones, from Rs250 per set to Rs500, and on CKD kits of mobile phones from Rs175 per kit to Rs350.

“The combined effect of these two measures will result in reduction in imports of $920 million in fiscal year 2018-19,” according to the central bank’s assessment.

In addition to reducing the import bill by about 1.6%, these tax measures will also generate Rs30 billion in revenue for the FBR, according to the official summary.That is only US$ 230 Million - Chicken Feed!

It is expected that the summary would be presented to the next government.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday condemned the reported killing of his party in Mansehra.Former Punjab chief minister on his Twitter handle wrote: “Outraged by the killing of PML-N worker in Mansehra. Demanding the recount of votes is a legal right of political parties. PML-N is a peaceful national political party and fear & intimidation can’t suppress our rights.”

According to media reports, one of the PML-N workers was killed in the city during a protest against the result of 2018 general elections. The party workers were demanding a recount of votes.

Beijing has said it will work closely with the new government in Islamabad.

China is watching closely as Pakistan comes out to vote on July 25 and counting happens on July 26 because Beijing believes its $62 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could be at stake.

When China launched the "flagship" of its massive Belt and Road Initiative, it was banking on CPEC transforming Pakistan and providing a boost to the Nawaz Sharif government.

In fact, an internal assessment conducted before Sharif's dismissal by Renmin University of China concluded that a government under the former chief minister would best ensure the project's progress, expressing concern about his weakening domestic position after the Panama Papers revelations.

"If there are no exceptions, the chances for PML-N (Sharif's party) to reassume power are high, and the continuation of the government can guarantee the continuation and support of the government to CPEC," the 2016 report said.

That assumption, however, was proved wrong. During the campaign, Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) criticised the outgoing government over lack of transparency in many CPEC projects and alleged corruption.

Details that have come to light recently have underlined the extraordinarily favourable terms that Pakistan has agreed to. A Wall Street Journal report on July 22 revealed that Chinese power companies had been given a guarantee of an astounding 34 per cent annual return on their investments in CPEC projects, to be paid by the Pakistan government in dollars.

This even as Pakistan's finances have teetered on the brink of a crisis, with suggestions that the new government will be forced to seek an International Monetary Fund bailout and its foreign exchange reserves dwindling.

On the eve of the election on Tuesday, China's Foreign Ministry said it believed no matter what the election results, it would work with the new Pakistani government closely.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said: "We believe the construction of CPEC will move forward according to the consensus reached by the two sides and will not be affected by other factors."

China would work with the new government to ensure that was the case, he said. "We would like to work together with the new government to deepen practical cooperation and move forward our all-weather strategic partnership," he said.

Beijing also defended the CPEC against the criticism. "The CPEC is a framework for strategic cooperation with eyes on long-term development of the two countries. It will help Pakistan develop and elevate cooperation between the two sides."

He added: "The corridor has played an important role in advancing the social and economic development of Pakistan. It enjoys the full support of Pakistani people and the government."

That, however, hasn't appeared to be the case during the hard-fought election campaign where China's projects, unusually, came under the spotlight.

ISLAMABAD: The country’s premier intelligence agency has requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to expunge several paragraphs from an order of its judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui who last week asked the army chief and the top spymaster to stop meddling in affairs of other departments.

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) through the Ministry of Defence secretary and the federation through the Ministry of Interior on Friday approached the IHC against Justice Siddiqui’s July 18 order.

Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Khawaja Imtiaz Ahmed filed the appeal that said a single-judge bench while hearing a habeas corpus petition unnecessarily dragged the ISI in the controversy.

In a written order pertaining to a missing person’s case, Justice Siddiqui had said abduction of people from different walks of life had become a routine in Islamabad but instead of performing their statutory duty the police came up with a stereotyped stance that persons might have disappeared on their own.

The judge had said such statements were always made in those cases in which allegations were levelled against the intelligence agencies, adding that it was a sorry state of affairs and a challenge to the state.

Justice Siddiqui had also claimed that even benches were constituted and cases were marked to different judges on the direction of such elements.

“Everyone knows how proceedings are manipulated, from where strings are pulled and when power wielded and manoeuvred to achieve desired results. To remain like a silent spectator is against the oath made by every judge provided by the Constitution,” he had said.

In the intra-court appeal (ICA), the DAG Ahmed said Justice Siddiqui’s remarks are “not only unsubstantiated and unfounded but also direct attack/allegation on the appellants, the institution of Pak Army, judiciary” and specifically the IHC’s chief justice and other judges.

Ahmed stated abducted the man did not accuse any law enforcement agency yet the judge made comments in his written order. “The impugned order is based upon mala fide and goes beyond the scope of justice and puts allegation on the Appellants in a whimsical manner without substance.”

He said the impugned order was circulated through media and social media and “caused serious damage to the reputation of its premier institutions of armed forces, intelligence agencies and the judiciary.”

He has argued in the appeal that disputed questions of fact cannot be resolved while exercising jurisdiction under Article 199 of the Constitution. Appellants have reproduced the order as well as several paragraphs in the appeal.

DAG requested the court to set aside relevant paras of the impugned order, declare that no abduction was carried out by any law enforcement agency and respondents’ petition be dismissed with cost.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to face tough situation to form a government in the Centre following decrease in its total National Assembly seats after completion of counting in some constituencies and announcement of protests against rigging by some political forces including Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).

In this scenario, the party position of two alliances (after independents joining political parties and adding reserved seats) can be as follows; PTI 152, PMLQ 4, AML 1 making total to 157.

On the other hand, position of parties out of any alliance so far can be; BAP 5, GDA 2 and MQM 7.

Apparently, the mard-e-momeens were protecting the honor of a motormama.

5 FIA officials suspended for thrashing ‘drunk’ passenger

Five officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) were suspended on Saturday as higher authorities took notice of beating of an allegedly drunk passenger at the airport whose video has gone viral on social media

The passenger had allegedly misbehaved with other passengers, including a woman, at the airport

It is pertinent to note here that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has emerged as the largest political party in the country after the July 25 general elections, winning 115 of the 270 National Assembly seats on which the elections were held.The party, however, is short of the 137 needed for simple majority and is trying to woo independents to join the party.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Amin Gandapur has offered Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to conduct re-election or vote recounting in Dera Ismail Khan’s NA-38 constituency.In a statement issued by Gandapur, he maintained that Fazlur Rehman can inspect the election results in whatever way he wishes. I will also contest if Maulana wants to make arrangements by his own will, he added. The PTI leader asserted that he has vowed to bury Fazlur Rehman’s politics of indifference and wickedness.

There is no love lost between the "respected" Maulana and the "playboy" PM to be . The Deobandi Cleric has been insistent in his claim of Imran being in the pocket of the Jewish/ Zionist Lobby , just because he happened to be once married to a rich Jewish heiress

‘Maulana will not re-contest in the polls because he knows that the defeat margin for the second time will be greater. He should cone in the field if have enough guts,’ asserted Gandapur. The MMA chief suffered a major shock as he was ousted by rookie candidates of PTI on two seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He contested the general elections as a candidate of MMA from two seats in KPK, losing both by a fair margin.—INP

No more sarkari perks for Mr. Fazlur Rahman like free govt bungalow in Isloo, free bullet proof 4 Wheeler to ferry him around town, no free trips to London and Dubai for ostensible medical check-ups, and no "extra salary" for doing "nothing" as Chairman Of So -Called Kashmir Committee. Now, he will have to etch out a living like any Aam Abdul !

Here's the official preliminary report (no wonder the pakis cherry-picked one line out of the other hundreds that questioned the fairness of this election). This report is outright damning to the recently concluded electoral process:

It will take a very, very long time before the rule of law is truly implemented in Pakiland. Does not make a damn difference which Party comes in power. The newly elected MP, of course, will make sure that "he takes care of his supporters" , otherwise, he is likely to "lose face" . !

ISLAMABAD: In compliance with the order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the High Commission for Pakistan in London has opened an account, namely, ‘Diamer Basha & Mohmand Dam Fund 2018’.The donations collected through the fund from the Pakistani community will go to the construction of Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams.

The British Govt should ensure that British Taxpayer's monies given to the unemployed Pakis in UK ( welfare and other social benefits ) do not end up in the coffers of the Paki Treasury and end up in Pakiland !

Incarcerated former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is serving a 10-year jail term after being convicted for owning assets beyond income in the Avenfield reference, may be shifted from Adiala Jail to Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) after developing serious cardiac complications, well-placed sources in the jail told DawnNewsTV on Sunday.

If Nawaz "goes under", there is no way that Imran Khan and the Deep State can evade responsibility for the way he was denied "urgent medical care" !!!.

Earlier today, Dr Naeem Malik, head of the Pims cardiology department, suggested that authorities shift Sharif to the hospital as his blood tests showed clotting which, according to the doctor, was an alarming sign considering his medical history. The PML-N supremo lives with diabetes and has also undergone bypass surgery. He currently takes medication for his heart condition, cholesterol and diabetes.

Sharif's personal physician reached Adiala Jail on Sunday evening to examine him. After the examination, it will be determined whether he will be shifted to Pims or not.

After the doctor's examination, jail authorities contacted the caretaker government to apprise it of the development. The provincial government had no objections towards moving Sharif to the hospital, but placed responsibility for his security on the Islamabad police, since he had been convicted by an accountability court and his security fell into the jurisdiction of the capital force.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in and around the jail. Security personnel have been deployed around its premises and the media have been advised to steer clear of the premises. Special arrangements have also been made at Pims.

Now, it is up to Imran Khan to personally intervene and make sure that an Ex Prime Minister is given the necessary and proper medical care , otherwise the people of Pakistan will never forgive him !

Why Is This Arbi Mullah "Bad Mouthing" All Arab Rulers ( Mashallah corrupt !) Singing The Paeans Of Imran, without knowing his "playboy" background This Amreeki Mullah should get his facts straight. Imran is NOT the President Of Pakistan

Help me raise money to save the Himalayan brown bears from extinction in Pakistan and conserve unique habitats

Our planet is not only the cradle of our existence, but it is a beautiful place with the most diverse, stunning natural landscapes and alive with the most fascinating living species. Yet, often we take it for granted and, unfortunately, humankind’s quest towards progress has come at a high cost to our environment. Today we are seeing unprecedented land degradation, and the loss of arable land at 30 to 35 times the historical rate. Drought and desertification is also on the rise each year, amounting to the loss of 12 million hectares, affecting poor communities globally. Of the 8,300 animal breeds known, 8% are extinct and 22% are at risk of extinction.Pakistan is no stranger to this threat. From the Himalaya – Karakorum - HinduKush mountain ranges to the Indus river basin and Tharparkar desert, ecosystems and biodiversity are disappearing, and with them traditional livelihoods and communities. This is compounded by the fact that Pakistan is the 7th most affected country by climate change.

Fool proof, tried and trusted Paki method of beggary. Same was used for the houbara bustard also. First give permission to rich Arabs for hunting them, to curry favour . And collect hunting and other" fees " from them . And then appeal to the world community to save the endangered or extinct species . Same is probably followed here as well. Only this time, the ghora is being used !

To do so, I am embarking on a 900 km endurance trek across the Pyrenees mountain range between France and Spain, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, during two weeks in August 2018. With 60,000 meters of positive elevation, TransPyrenea is a very arduous journey where participants are required to trek in almost full autonomy. This challenge is described as: blah blah blah

Help me raise US$10,000 to help communities in Pakistan protect unique habitats through the work of the United Nations Development Programme. Funds will be used to raise awareness about the endangered Himalayan brown bear in the unique Deosai Plateau, well-known for its rich flora and fauna of the Karakoram alpine steppe eco-region.Thanks for joining my campaign to protect life on land!

From the comments, it seems that many people have been "suckered in", not knowing anything about Pakistan, etc etc

Around a dozen ballot papers were found from a garbage dump near Qayyumabad area of Karachi on Saturday, three days after the general elections were held across the country.

The ballot papers were reportedly recovered from a garbage dump and were allegedly stamped to favour the PPP candidate from NA-241 constituency, Moazzam Ali Qureshi, thus fuelling suspicion among the contesting parties over the electoral process.

Karachi East Zone DIG Amir Farooqi told Dawn that Qureshi himself approached police for lodging of FIR. The police have advised the candidate to approach the concerned district returning officer (DRO) to look into this matter and initiate a proper inquiry if need be, as initially, it was DRO’s responsibility.

Expert observers suspect his election victory was a soft coup engineered by Pakistan’s powerful military. With Khan as the popular face of the regime, they say, the generals will be able to quietly pull the strings – without taking any responsibility if things go wrong.

If it is God's will (that's what Masha Allah means) that they are corrupt, who is this Pakistani to complain about? Either that, or, as usual, this pseudo-Islamic Pakistani (or the Mullah) is unaware of the meaning of that Arabic word.

PM elect Imran Khan responds to the news of deteriorating health of Nawaz Sharif in Adiala Jail July 28, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister-elect Imran Khan has responded to the news of deteriorating health of Nawaz Sharif inside the Adiala Jail. He has wished speedy and full recovery of former premier Nawaz Sharif who has fallen sick inside Adiala jail.

Bollywood movies are popular in China. Aamir Khan flicks even more so. That could explain why Chinese media has been crying "all is well" and advising Imran Khan, Pakistan PM-designate, to ignore what "western media" is saying on China-Pakistan ties. To make up for its lack of political legitimacy, authoritarian regimes such as China often run a strategy of misinformation, propaganda and denial to control flow of information and retain command.

We should therefore perk up our ears when a Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece decries coverage in western media of a possible strain in bilateral ties that may emerge with the formation of a new civilian government under Imran’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, given the fact that China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects have in the past fallen prey to vituperative political campaign in Pakistan — some of it led by Imran.

Imran had accused the previous govt's politicians like Nawaz and Shahbaaz of receiving kickbacks from Chinese companies doing the CPEC projects . The Chinese Govt has denied this !

Chinese state-run Global Times insists that “conditions that help foster this special relationship have not changed with the rise of Imran and his party”. It maintains that "China-Pakistan relations always transcend political changes within Pakistan" and points out that "there have never been any political trials against it (CPEC) in Pakistan". All valid points. As Imran's new govt may order a probe, many CPEC projects may either be delayed or local private partners may be replaced in favour of PTI persons !

Strategic expert Gao Zhikai of the Centre for China and Globalisation in Beijing was quoted as saying in DailyO that the new prime minister “will be treated as a best friend”, while Chinese foreign ministry official said, “We are glad to see the election in Pakistan went through smoothly. We sincerely hope Pakistan can maintain political social stability and focus on development.” Not a word, expectedly, on the widespread rigging, army interference and subversion of the democratic process that took place during Pakistan’s “dirtiest election in years.”

China, to be on safe side, does not comment on internal politics in Pakistan. !

There is no doubt that a strong, bipartisan consensus exists in Pakistan in favour of CPEC as a key driver of economic stability and strategic advantage. The most important entity in Pakistan, its powerful military, is solidly behind Xi’s flagship project and ensures its centrality in China-Pakistan ties.

Rigtly or wrongly, CPEC is "being promoted" has the gamechanger , which will change Pakistan's fortunes from a "have not " nation to a mini economic super power

If these fundamentals are constant, what explains China’s nervousness in harping on the stability of China-Pakistan ties and sanctity of CPEC projects? A few articles in western media "hyping" up a "change in Pakistan’s China policy" should hardly be of concern. But it clearly was. Why?

China is keen to ensure the stability of the $62 billion CPEC, the crown jewel of Xi’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Security of its monetary and political investments is a pressing concern but equally so is the successful rendition of its flagship project that may blunt the debt-trap criticisms that surround the BRI, aid China’s geopolitical ambition, link Eurasian arm of ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ with Southeast Asian ‘Maritime Silk Road’ and may even address China’s “Malacca dilemma” via overland access to Arabian Sea through Pakistan, as Daniel S Markey and James West point out in their article for Council on Foreign Relations.

It is also expected to upgrade the China-Pakistan bilateral relationship from its moorings in security relationship to a strategic embrace and deepening of socio-economic ties. The success of CPEC, therefore, is as important to China as it is to investment-hungry Pakistan. Given this context, China would love nothing more than to see political continuity in Pakistan so that the CPEC projects are insured against and immune from political interference.

The Deep State has been giving assurances to the Chinese Govt that they will ensure the safety of Chinese workers who come to "do work on CPEC projects" , specially in Gawadar and Balochistan . But attack on the Chinese flares up all over the country, now and then in spite of the bonhomie proclaimed !

Chinese investors, according to an article in Wall Street Journal by Jeremy Page and Saeed Shah, “were promised annual returns on investment of up to 34 per cent, guaranteed by the Pakistan government, in (US) dollars, for 30 years.”

The promise of such high and unreasonable returns may have led more Chinese investors to pump in money but delays, systemic corruption and behavioural issues turned many of these projects unviable. For instance, as the WSJ article elaborates, Pakistani authorities were struggling to secure payments for new Chinese power projects "because of longstanding problems getting Pakistanis to pay their bills".

Many Paki business, political and military elites are now thirsty and hungry to drink deep at the expense of the Chinese investment monies coming in, just like they used to with American largesse. But the shrewd Chinese do not overlook such brazen financial oversights . And they are complaining loudly . And hence the inevitable delays !

Meanwhile, the import of machinery and transport equipment for CPEC projects were wreaking havoc on Pakistan's economy. “In the first two years of the CPEC project, up to June 2017, Pakistan’s imports of machinery and transport equipment jumped 51 per cent to $15.5 billion,” points out Tom Hussain in South China Morning Post.

This is what happens when due diligence is not performed , when proper budgeting - for imports and exports - is not done, when "secret clauses" are inserted into agreements to favour the Chinese, where local politicians are not taken into confidence, where the Agreement is not discussed in the National Assembly, but is rubber-stamped for fast approval . So, of course now the chickens are coming home to roost and the Paki exchequer is finding its foreign reserves depleted and rupee sliding down and down. And the IMF will want to know ALL details , before it bails out Pakistan once again

Coupled with a widening trade deficit (imports at 10 times the volume of exports), profit repatriations and external debt obligations, Pakistan’s economy was left with a balance of payment of crisis where it had barely enough forex reserves to cover two months of imports. The State Bank of Pakistan declared in June that forex reserves have declined by over $600 million during the week ending 22 June and left it with $9.663 billion in reserves.

Emergency injection of Chinese funds to the tune of $3 billion at market rates have provided temporary relief but Pakistan may soon need a bailout package from IMF that is likely to result in scanning of the CPEC portfolio and may lead to closure of some projects for unviability, say analysts.

The Chinese are left with no alternative but to protect its own investment . So much is at stake !

China was under the impression that the Nawaz government would be in a better position to negotiate the political trouble arising out of the economic crisis. In an internal assessment, reports India Today, China had in 2016 speculated that “a government under him would best ensure the project's progress, expressing concern about his weakening domestic position after the Panama Papers revelations.” Alas, this is not happening !

The Chinese had words of praise last year for Nawaz’s brother Shehbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab, for speedy execution of projects.

On the contrary, Imran’s political posturing over CPEC projects had resulted in skepticism in China over his intentions. In 2016, the PTI chief, then in charge of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, had “conveyed his reservations to Chinese Ambassador”.

China had to spend political capital in lobbying Imran though the PTI chief had made it clear that the dispute lay with Nawaz government’s handling of CPEC projects, not the projects per se.

Be that as it may, this provides the context of skepticism in Chinese ranks over Imran’s trajectory. Pakistan’s prime minister-designate has reaffirmed his faith in CPEC as an “employment generator” but his status as a rookie administrator and doubts over his political acumen have persisted — given the fact that Imran is yet to show that he fully understands the dimensions of the problems that face him. His ticket to prime minister-dom was secured through a route of populist angst against corruption, and his simplistic ideas about Pakistan’s ailments could add to his challenges.

Of immediate interest will be the political challenges facing Imran, given the polarising campaign that he ran. It has resulted in the creation of bad blood. Add to that is the belief of nearly all Opposition parties in Pakistan that the army engineered Imran’s win, therefore they may be unwilling to cooperate with the government in areas where the PTI chief might need consensus.

The Chinese will hope that the spillover effect of this political animosity does not affect its grand plan. Herein lies the genesis of Chinese nervousness.

Imran need not worry. Paki Army will handle this with the Chinese. There are many Deep State peoples (MPs) in Imran's Party ( like Brigadier Ejaz Shah, a Mush crony ) who can be a dalal between Imran and fauj and can "guide" hm !

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday he’d be willing to shut down the government if Democrats refuse to vote for his immigration proposals, including building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“I would be willing to ‘shut down’ government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall!” Trump tweeted. “Must get rid of Lottery, Catch & Release etc. and finally go to system of Immigration based on MERIT!

“We need great people coming into our Country!” Trump said.

Trump returned to the idea of shutting down the government over the border wall just days after meeting at the White House with House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to discuss the fall legislative agenda.

McConnell, asked about a shutdown last week during a Kentucky radio interview, said it was not going to happen. He did acknowledge, however, that the border funding issue was unlikely to be resolved before the November midterm elections.

Trump campaigned on the promise of building a border wall to deter illegal immigration and making Mexico pay for it. Mexico has refused.

Congress has given the president some wall funding but not as much as he has requested. Trump also wants changes to legal immigration, including scrapping a visa lottery program. In addition, he wants to end the practice of releasing immigrants caught entering the country illegally on the condition that they show up for court hearings.

Trump has also demanded that the U.S. shift to an immigration system that’s based more on merit and less on family ties.

Democrats and some Republicans have objected to some of the changes Trump seeks.

The federal budget year ends Sept. 30, and lawmakers will spend much of August in their states campaigning for re-election in November. The House is now in a five-week recess, returning after Labor Day. The Senate remains in session and is set to take a one-week break the week of Aug. 6, then returning for the rest of the month.

Both chambers will have short window of working days to approve a spending bill before government funding expires.

Trump would be taking a political risk if he does, in fact, allow most government functions to lapse on Oct. 1 — the first day of the new budget year — roughly a month before the Nov. 6 elections, when Republican control of both the House and Senate is at stake.

House Republicans released a spending bill this month that provides $5 billion next year to build Trump’s wall, a major boost.

Democrats have long opposed financing Trump’s wall but lack the votes by themselves to block House approval of that amount. But they have the strength to derail legislation in the closely divided Senate. Without naming a figure, Trump said in April that he would “have no choice” but to force a government shutdown this fall if he doesn’t get the border security money he wants.

The $5 billion is well above the $1.6 billion in the Senate version of the bill, which would finance the Homeland Security Department. The higher amount matches what Trump has privately sought in conversations with Republican lawmakers, according to a GOP congressional aide who wasn’t authorized to publicly talk about private discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Two leading Democrats — Reps. Nita Lowey of New York and California’s Lucille Roybal-Allard — called the $5 billion a waste that “only further enables this administration’s obsession with cruel attacks on immigrants.”

Separately Sunday, Trump tweeted that there are “consequences when people cross our Border illegally” and claimed that many who do so are “using children for their own sinister purposes.”

Trump’s tweet came several days after the government said more than 1,800 children separated at the U.S.-Mexico border under Trump’s “zero-tolerance” immigration policy have been reunited with parents and sponsors. A federal judge had ordered the reunions to be completed by last Thursday but hundreds of children remain separated. The administration says some of their parents have criminal histories.

“Please understand, there are consequences when people cross our Border illegally, whether they have children or not - and many are just using children for their own sinister purposes,” Trump said.

He also said Congress must fix “the DUMBEST & WORST immigration laws anywhere in the world!” and urged voters to “Vote ‘R’” in November.

If it is God's will (that's what Masha Allah means) that they are corrupt, who is this Pakistani to complain about? Either that, or, as usual, this pseudo-Islamic Pakistani (or the Mullah) is unaware of the meaning of that Arabic word.

SS - minor correction...Mashallah - what allah wanted has happened!Inshallah - if it is allah's will.These guys keep sprinkling inshallah, mashallah, jazakallah, subhanallah etc. as punctuations in a sentence, without really paying attention to the meaning, almost like BC, MC, BoseDK, etc.